NAW BETTY HAN | 21 MAR 2019
Dr Aye Maung, Ann township MP and founder of the Arakan National Party, speaks to the media after his sentencing at Sittwe Township Court on Tuesday. Photo - EPA
Ethnic political parties on Tuesday said they are disappointed by a Rakhine State court’s decision to sentence politician U Aye Maung and author U Wai Hin Aung to a combined 22 years in prison for treason and sedition.
The Sittwe Township Court sentenced U Aye Maung, the founder of the Arakan National Party, to 20 years in prison for treason and U Wai Hin Aung to two years for sedition.
The charges stemmed from speeches they delivered at an event in January 2018.
“We are deeply sorry to hear that Dr Aye Maung was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The court decision might affect the ANP and the trust of the Rakhine people in the government.
“The Rakhine people’s participation in government could be diminished,” U Tu Ja, chair of the Kachin State Democracy Party, said.
After decades of dictatorship, Myanmar adopted the multiple-party system in the 2010 election, and ethnic people formed their own parties to represent themselves.
The ANP controls the Rakhine parliament.
Daw Aye Nu Sein, vice chair of the ANP, said the two men were just expressing their opinions, and the government violated their right to free expression with the conviction, which was also an act of suppression against the Arakan people.
“The Arakan people are furious about the sentencing of their leader to jail,” she added.
Nai Layi Tama, general secretary of Mon National Party, also expressed disappointment with the convictions.
“Dr Aye Maung and Wai Hin Aung do not deserve their prison sentences. They just identified themselves with their Arakan history and the honour of the Arakan kingdom. It was not treason” Nai Layi Tama said.
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